Benefits Of Prune Juice And Physical Well-Being

by Milton Lee

People who have looked into constipation treatments have likely learned about the prune. Prunes are thought to be good for treating constipation, possibly because of its high fiber content. However, many people don't know that prune juice is also a good constipation treatment.



The scientific term for the plum is the Prunus domestica, from which prunes are made. Anthropologists studying ancient civilizations have found evidence that cultivation of plums and processing into prunes is a very old activity dating back thousands of years. To this day, the process remains the same. Plums are dried for about 20 hours in hot air just under 100 degrees C. From there, extra processing leads to other prune-derived products.



The conventional understanding is that prunes get their laxative effects by having a lot of fiber. In fact, the fiber is over 5% by weight, which is quite high for a fruit. Prune juice however has almost no fiber because the particulates are filtered out usually. Therefore, how does prune juice benefit those who suffer from constipation? The key is sorbitol, a long complex sugar.



The content of sorbitol in prune juice is amazingly high. The sugar is a complex polysaccharide, meaning that it's an extended chain of sugar-like molecules. When ingested, it tends to absorb a lot of water and stays in gut. In fact, because it's not absorbed in the same way as glucose, sorbitol is often used as a sweetener that is calorie free.



The pear is another food that is high in sorbitol. If you've chewed sugar free gum in the past, you might have noticed that a key ingredient is sorbitol. Unlike glucose, sorbitol isn't processed and taken in as energy. Couple that with its slightly sweet taste means that it's the perfect sugar substitute.



Why does sorbitol act like a natural laxative? There are two properties already mentioned which are responsible: first, it passes through the body without being absorbed, much as dietary fiber; second, it retains a large amount of water as it goes through the gut. Either water that is taken in at the same time is retained in the gastrointestinal tract, or water is drawn from the surrounding tissues into the gastrointestinal tract.



With excess water, the colon contents become less dense and pass more easily through the body. The class of laxatives that exerts its effects through water retention is known as the osmotic laxatives. Prune juice is convenient to store and take all day. However, as with any type of self-administered laxative treatment, it's probably best to ask a physician for safety and dosing instructions.

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